The family business that preceded the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810 and produces coffee mills and bicycles. But it wasn’t until 1896 where Armand Peugeot built the company’s first car, which was an unreliable steam tricycle, this followed by an internal combustion car with a Panhard-Daimler engine in 1890. Unlike its early history, Peugeot is known as a very reliable brand, citing how its 1950s and 1960s models are still running in Africa and Cuba in the 2010s, where Peugeot is called "the lion".

Peugeot received many international awards for its vehicles, including four European Car of the Year awards. In 2013 and 2014, Peugeot ranked the second lowest for average CO2 emissions among generalist brands in Europe, the Renault carmaker group being ranked first, with 114.9g CO2/km.

Peugeot has been involved in motor sport for more than a century. Peugeot Sport won the World Rally Championship five times, the Intercontinental Le Mans Cup twice (2010, 2011), surpassing Toyota and Audi, the World Endurance Championship twice (1992, 1993), and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge Championship three times. Peugeot cars in Malaysia are distributed by Nasim Sdn. Bhd. offering motorists with models like the 208, 2008, 308, 3008, 408, 508, 5008 & RCZ.